Malaysian organization YPC sends aid to flood victims

Donations from Malaysia to help Bosnia and Herzegovina after the worst natural disaster caused by floods in the country will be directed to assist victims of both Muslim and Christian faiths, the Patria News Agency reports.

In his thanks to the Malaysian public for the aid donations to his country, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Malaysia, Tarik Bukvić, said that the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of 55% Muslims and 45% Christians. Clarifying misconceptions about the ethnic and religious composition of his country, he said that Bosnia does not differ much from Malaysia and that its population is divided into three ethnic groups – Bosniaks who are Muslims, and Serbs and Croats who are Christians.

- One good thing that the floods have caused is that, in a way, they have helped to remove ethnic and religious barriers and unite different communities in Bosnia in facing adversity - said the ambassador while receiving a donation of 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (around 22,350 KM) on behalf of theSun-Mercy Malaysia – Flood Disaster Relief Fund for Bosnia, given by the Yayasan Pendidikan Cheras (YPC) organization.

He said that the process of reconciliation and gaining trust after the war of 1993-1995 was very slow, but the tragic floods have changed this situation.

- After the floods occurred, ethnic and religious barriers were forgotten, and people rushed to help their neighbors, regardless of who they were - said Bukvić, adding that some villages were areas inhabited mostly by the Muslim population, and the surrounding hilly areas by the Serb and Croat populations.

- But when the floods hit us, Serbs and Croats immediately rushed to help the residents of those villages. Likewise, when Doboj, an area composed of 99% Serbs, was severely affected by the floods, Muslims were the first to arrive there to help - added Bukvić.

Meanwhile, the chairman of YPC, Datuk Syed Ali Al-Habshee, said that although his foundation usually focuses on charitable activities in the field of education, they decided to contribute to the flood victims in Bosnia this time.

- We feel that people in Bosnia need help very much right now - he said, adding that YPC also provided assistance to Bosnia during the war in the 1990s.

According to United Nations estimates, at least 210 million US dollars (700 million Malaysian ringgit) are needed for Bosnia alone to cover essential priority needs in the next six months for accommodation, food, water, health needs, agricultural materials, medicines, removal of debris and rubble, and for mine clearance.